With a few scant exceptions like
unauthorized
tethering apps, Google has been rather permissive in what it
allows on its Android Market -- its counter to the iTunes App Store.
Whereas approval through Apple can be filled with months
of rejections and delays for some unlucky developers, Google has
tried harder to make the process of publishing an app as straight
forward as possible.

Some malicious parties, though, have
tried to take advantage of the company's permissive nature. On
December 22, First Tech Credit Union wrote that a "fraudster
developed a rogue Android Smartphone app" that spoofs users with
a fake bank interface, trying to get users to fill in their account
information. That day BayPort Credit Union's mobile bank
provider, MShift, announced similar concerns, stating that it had
contacted Google on the December 15 about another rogue app.

It
turns out that the developer -- 09Droid -- actually had a plethora of
fake bank apps available on the Android Market, including apps posing
as Chase, Sun Trust and Bank of America. Google has at last
removed those apps from the market, explaining that they clearly
violate its terms of use.

Writes a Google spokesperson, "The
Android Market Content Policy clearly states that we don't allow
applications on Android Market to identify themselves with
third-party marks without permission. If an application violates the
content policy, we will remove it from Android Market, and developer
accounts will be terminated for repeated violations."

They
add, "For example, we have a policy against inappropriate
content, which includes malware. A developer must also abide by our
Developer Distribution Agreement in order to upload an application to
Android Market. We also may check applications for compliance with
the Market Content Policies (in order to remove malware, porn, spam,
or profanity)."

While the Android Market clearly has
rules, it is an interesting question whether Google's permissiveness
is the reason rogue apps like this have been able to slip through to
a greater degree than competitor Apple. Despite an enormous
volume of apps, few, if any, rogue apps have made it to Apple's
iTunes App store thus far.

Regardless of the answer to that
question, Mikko Hyppönen, chief research officer at F-Secure, says
rogue applications are a sign of smart
phone attack attempts to come. He also points out that
smart phone manufacturer Symbian's app approval process has also been
subverted. He writes, "Some of them will try to target
online banking, others will try to call premium-rate numbers or send
text message spam and so [on]. Signing and certifying programs are in
a key position on smartphone systems to prevent problems like this
... [although] we have seen the 'Signed by Symbian' certification
process subverted a couple of times."

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quote: Android has no chance against the iPhone because it's not a closed platform. Closed platforms are more secure, have less piracy and make a lot more money for developers.

Sure, that's why Mac is more popular then PCs, and why Apple changed to Intel vs PowerPC. And we've all read how much more secure OS X is than Windows or Linux.

Google and Android has some growing to do for certain. And as with any system, the more freedom the greater the dangers and risks. But time and again open systems have evolved to be more popular and usually better than closed versions.

Besides, it's only a matter of time before this starts to affect Apple too. If reduced or free Android apps prove good enough to draw users to Android then how long before developers either need to move to stay with the market, or have to reduce or eliminate prices to compete against Android counterparts?

We've already heard of blocked apps that Apple or AT&T have killed because they don't want the competition or strain on their systems. These are the types of apps that will start to win Android market share.

Consoles are cheaper than PCs by a fair margin, hence the sales descrpency. But the comparison is apples and oranges. I could say that productivity software sales on the game consoles is nothing compared to PCs as proof against game consoles.

A fair comparison would be amount of software & freeware downloaded or purchased per PC vs the number of games sold per game console. I'd imagine the PC would win that comparison since it is capable of far more than a game console.

There's no doubt the app store is impressive and Apple could maintain it's hold on that market, but only if they get off of AT&T. Otherwise the sheer volume of things running Android could force developers to go there if they want to be a part of the market.